It's everywhere. Tea Detoxing has taken the internet, and especially Instagram, by storm. If you don't know what I'm talking about, below is a picture of the gorgeous Kat Graham (TVD) with a pack.﻿

This article doesn't target a specific brand, it's about all detox teas in general. So here's the question a lot of people are asking "should I spend up to $30 on tea?". We have the answer and the reason behind our response to the tea detoxing trend.﻿

Tea is good for you, it tastes good, smells good, and can make you feel better when you're sick. And while tea detoxing can help you lose weight, it's a dieters worse nightmare; you gain it all back.

How Detox Tea Works Detox teas work short term by purging your digestive system. They contain laxative derivatives to clean out your colon and, frequently, a diuretic to help you lose water weight. But, when you stop taking the tea, the weight will return. And if you don't stop - if you continue a detox for more than a few days - you could run the risk of becoming dependent on the laxative effects of the teas. Which means you risk being able to have a normal digestive system.

Intended Use Of Detox Teas The original purpose of detox teas is ridding your colon of toxins. People can become unhealthy when their colons become clogged with waste material and that colon cleansing is a way of restoring balance, however it's not recommend that you take things like tea detox to lose weight. Detox teas are basically laxatives, which don't do a thing to get rid of body fat.

Green Tea Metabolism Boost The only way to lose fat is to burn more calories than you consume. You can eat less, exercise more or do both to create a calorie deficit (nothing under 1,200 calories). Some of the ingredients in detox teas may boost your metabolism and aid traditional weight-loss efforts. Green tea, which is featured in many of the tea detoxes you can buy, helps burn fat when paired with traditional weight loss efforts. You can drink plain green tea without laxatives or additives, and lose up to 1/2 a pound per week; and it's much much cheaper! Plus you cut out the risk of causing future gut issues.

Harmful Ingredients This is a definite no-no for your body in general, but tea shouldn't contain additives that are more damaging than beneficial. Ingredients in some detox teas pose serious side effects. Apart from becoming dependent on the laxatives included in tea detoxes, you could face unwanted consequences if the tea you choose contains any of the following herbs:Bitter orange: this is a stimulant similar to ephedra and blamed for causing several heart attack deaths.Siberian Ginseng: This is associated with sleep disorders and high blood pressure.Guarana: a stimulant that can cause jitters and effects similar to taking large unhealthy amounts of caffeine.Goto Kola: Known to cause liver problems in some long-term users.Kelp & Bladderwrack: Kelp is great in salads, but kelp and bladderwrack contain iodine and could lead to hyperthyroidism with overuse.

Precautions The temporary benefits of drinking detox teas may produce long-term serious consequences (this is science speaking, not a personal opinion). If you decide to try a detox tea, that's alright. Just be safe and check the labels for ingredients and do your homework to find out if herbs that are listed are safe (in excess too). Drink plenty of water during any tea detox and don't make a habit out of taking detox teas. Detox teas can be taken safely for up to a week, but should not be continued any longer without a doctors approval.

Final Note As mentioned above, you can still take a detox tea, but don't use it for any longer than a week. I also feel like it's important to note that if you have any medical conditions, you should probably contact your doctor or specialist before ordering your tea detox. Herbal tea detoxes that do not contain any laxatives or any excess/unneeded products are A-OK. If you can't take detox teas, it's okay! For the majority (unless you have a condition) our bodies are made to 'detoxify' themselves, it's just the detox boost that feels good to do every once and a while.